Factional President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ambassador Chris Giwa, has reiterated that nobody wanted the country suspended by FIFA from global football activities, contrary to insinuations in certain quarters.
This was the core of a statement issued, on Sunday, by Giwa’s special assistant on media, Victor Iroele.
According to the statement, Giwa argued that Nigeria had not erred in any way to deserve sanctions from the global football governing body, FIFA, even though it dangles its axe over the country like the proverbial Sword of Damocles.
“Nobody wants Nigeria to be suspended or banned,” the statement quoted Giwa as saying. “Efforts are being made to avoid it, even as we know some people instigated it.
“We hope to resolve this unfortunate development caused by people, who think they are bigger than the country and its laws. But no matter how far they go, the long arm of the law will catch up with them, someday.
“It’s unfortunate that the government has been dragged into this whole leadership tussle, even when it was glaring it had no involvement in the crisis. But it suits the narrative of those beating the drum of FIFA ban.
“We hope all this will be resolved, and the country comes out the winner, as against the posturing of ‘we can do without the government’ because sports cannot grow and develop without the active involvement of government of Nigeria.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria has not done anything to deserve any suspension because the law of natural justice expects you to hear from parties in disputes and not just from one party. Even an armed robber caught in the act is also given a fair hearing but regrettably FIFA has failed to do in this instance,”
The NFF President then asked rhetorically: “Can we resolve this matter without any input from the government? How do you reconcile that the same people who accuse the government of partisanship, when it suits them, also runs to the same government for intervention?
“We have done everything with respect to the laws of the land, walking the path of justice and peace, and we believe the country has been unfairly portrayed globally for personal gains, which, for us is condemnable.”
The NFF President expressed disappointment over what he referred to as misinformation in some quarters that the August 26, 2014 congress was not an elective congress.”
In November 2013, in Warri, Delta State, the road map for the 2014 election was drawn with August 26, 2014 as date for elective congress while the electoral and appeals committees for the election were constituted. If the date was to be changed, there are procedures, and if the election was flawed in any way, there is an appeal committee. “Why should people continue to deceive and misinform Nigerians?” Giwa asked.
“We must not forget when one of the most successful NFF Presidents, Aminu Maigari resigned, his first Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh took over power ahead of the August 26, 2014 elective congress, which Umeh was a co-contestant, with Amb. Chris Giwa. Alhaji Aminu Maigari coordinated the emergency and elective congresses in Warri that produced Amaju Pinnick group, despite the restriction by the Federal High Court against the 30th September, 2014 election,” Giwa further explained.